Former Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri has released a statement this afternoon following his shock departure from the Foxes yesterday, he said:

"Yesterday, my dream died.
After the euphoria of last season and being crowned Premier League Champions all I dreamt of was staying with Leicester City, the club I love, for always.
Sadly this was not to be.
I wish to thank my wife Rosanna and all my family for their never ending support during my time at Leicester. My thanks go to Paolo and Andrea who accompanied me on this wonderful journey. To Steve Kutner and Franco Granello for bringing me the opportunity to become a Champion...."

– Claudio Ranieri.

He went on to add:

"Mostly I have to thanks Leicester City Football Club. The adventure was amazing and will live with me forever. Thank you to all the journalists and the media who came with us and enjoyed reporting on the greatest story in football. My heartfelt thanks to everybody at the club, all the players, the staff, everybody who was there and was part of what we achieved. But mostly to the supporters, you took me in to your hearts from day one and loved me. I love you too. No one can ever take away what we together have achieved, and I hope you think about it and smile everyday the way I always will. It was a time of wonderfulness and happiness that I will never forget. It's been a pleasure and an honour to be a champion with all of you."

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Our correspondent Phil Brewster has been out on the streets of Leicester this afternoon taking in the mood of the fans following last nights shock sacking of Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri.

City Mayor Peter Soulsby told us he was shocked but not entirely surprised, he said that the city owes Claudio a tremendous amount and he will be sad to see him leave:

Meanwhile, over at the 'Local Hero', a club close to the King Power stadium, staff have been reflecting on his tenure, deputy manager Jack Curry said the mood of the fans had however changed this season:

Roberto Mancini, the favourite to replace Claudio Ranieri as Leicester manager, has expressed his sympathy for his compatriot following his sacking.

Ranieri was dismissed in the wake of his side's 2-1 Champions League defeat to Sevilla on Thursday night, just nine months after leading the Foxes to the most improbable of Premier League title successes.

The Italian defied odds of 5,000-1 to land the title for Leicester, but this season has been a different story, with the club lying just one point above the relegation zone.

Assistant manager Craig Shakespeare and Mike Stowell will take interim charge ahead of Monday's match against Liverpool, but former Manchester City manager Mancini, who had a short spell as a player with the Foxes and is available after leaving Inter Milan last year, is the favourite to replace Ranieri on a permanent basis.

Mancini said on Twitter: "I am sorry for my friend #Ranieri. He will remain in the history of @LCFC, in the heart of #Leicester fans and all football lovers."